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Then it crashed like a furious wave smashing into rocks before washing the pain away, leaving only the power that drove it.

I gasped as the final wave flowed through me. “It’s okay, I’m okay…I passed. Somehow, I passed.” I pushed myself up into a sitting position and shoved my fingers in my hair. “I just have to win my trial, then my part in this is over.” I’d won the last fairly easily. Yes, I trusted in my abilities, but my next opponent may not go down so easily. There’d already been a couple of deaths, witches who were strong, skilled.

My sisters were untested.

“That’s good.”

He gave me room as I stood, watching me as I quickly dressed.

“But something’s wrong, why aren’t you happy? Talk to me.”

I yanked my shirt on. “The souls weren’t part of my task, Warrick. I don’t know who sent them or why. And now my sisters have to go through this as well.”

He planted his hands on his hips, his brows dropping, his golden gaze raking over me. “We’ll figure it out,” he finally said.

I nodded, because I had to believe that as well. “I need to get home to my family.”

My sisters would have felt it, the increase in power, and I needed to check on Roe. Had it worked? We’d all been counting on it. More power to go around meant more for Roe. If we were right, then when Iris passed her trial, Rose would get another boost.

Maybe it would be enough.

It had to be.

“You’re bleeding.”

“It’s fine, I’m used to it.” I stepped back, and he grabbed my arm.

He shook his head. “The smell of your blood fucks with me. I don’t like knowing you’re hurt, dove.”

“You better be careful, alpha, you’ll have me believing you actually care,” I said, the words coming out more than a little bitter, my emotions far too close to the surface to temper.

He scowled fiercely. “I don’t like seeing you hurt.”

Awesome. He didn’t like to see me bleed. Not exactly a heartfelt declaration. Best not to get all excited that Warrick suddenly had a functioning heart.

Then he lowered to the ground, carefully lifted the leg of my jeans, and leaned in, giving it the hellhound healing treatment, licking the slice along my calf until it began to seal itself. Then he dragged my jeans leg back down just as carefully and stood. “Now we can go.”

I fought back a shiver, turned, and ran for my truck and home.

* * *

The Morris skidded to a stop outside the house, and I jumped out and ran inside. Mom was in the kitchen, making a cup of tea, when I rushed in. “Did you feel it?”

She turned, and a gentle smile curled her lips and nodded.

“And Rose?”

She put down the cup in her hand. Her hands were shaking. “No change.”

I grabbed for the back of a kitchen chair. No. I fought the tears that instantly sprang to my eyes. “Where is she?”

“Resting,” Mom said. “This has…it’s hit her hard.” Her lips quivered. “This was keeping her going, Wills. Hope was keeping her going. I’m afraid that now she’ll just…give up.”

I walked to Mom and pulled her into my arms, hugging her tight. “We’ll find a cure for her. We will.”

She gripped my arms and looked up at me. “How? When we don’t even know what’s wrong with her?”

Heavy boots hit the floor behind me, and I knew Warrick had just walked in.